Fallsburg teacher charged with stealing from union

FALLSBURG – A Fallsburg teacher was arrested Tuesday and charged with stealing nearly $23,000 from the Fallsburg Teacher's Association by writing forged checks.

Fallsburg police say they charged Bonnie Ascolese, 53, with third-degree grand larceny and 16 counts of second-degree forgery. Ascolese, listed in the school district's directory as a "consultant teacher" with Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School, was arraigned Tuesday and released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, police say.

A woman answered the telephone at Ascolese's Woodbourne residence Thursday, but refused to comment. "I'm not speaking to you,” she said. “I'm sorry.”

Fallsburg Teacher's Association President Stephen Janove said Ascolese was treasurer for the organization. He issued a statement calling the arrest a "painful development" that would not distract teachers "from our most important mission – helping the children of this school district to learn."

Janove also asked that the case not be prejudged. "The individual involved, like every American, deserves to be treated fairly under the law," he said. "That's all we want for her, and for every American.”lsparks@th-record.com